"Isn't this just wonderful?" Lacey gushed, as she surveyed the large living room. The large group had just arrived to the cabin where they would be spending the next month and a half. The five-bedroom rental was exactly as she had pictured it: wood everywhere she looked, large fireplace and big, plushy chairs. It reminded her of the cottage she had spent most of her summers, and all of her Christmas vacation time as a child.

"Quit yer gushin' woman, and help me get this stuff unpacked," Brian grunted, as he dropped the box and three bags he was carrying.

"What happened to Nick?"

"Ah, I lost him. He looked at the load in our Explorer, and took off into the woods, to take a look around. Figures, drag the guy to Maine, of course he's going to be completely unhelpful," Brian muttered.

"Hey, he's a good babysitter. Quit your bitching, and wait until we get a night alone!" Lacey laughed.

"But Emily is still in Florida with Kevin and Anna! Why couldn't he just come up with them, before Christmas, giving us some time to ourselves?" Brian whined.

"And leave him alone for Thanksgiving? You heartless jerk! I couldn't do that, not after what Kevin told him, and the way he reacted to it."

"I know, Lacey, I understand. But I can't help but wish that I could have my wife to myself for a few days. That hasn't happened since our honeymoon, in case you've forgotten?" he said, putting his arms around her. She smiled, and leaned her head on his shoulder, nuzzling up against his neck.

"Yeah, it's been awhile. But he'll be leaving after Thanksgiving, and we'll have at least a week. Take it like a man," she laughed softly.

"Fine, fine," Brian relented, rolling his eyes. This was what he got for marrying a woman with a strong will, that he adored so utterly. The consequence: she had the nice ability to bend him to that strong will.

* * * *

The sky was a brilliant blue, the sun shining despite the chill in the air, and the blanket of snow covering the ground. The white-capped water crashed against the rocks, sending a mist of spray into the air with every rhythmic crash. Carrie inhaled deeply, relishing the scent, the freshness in the air that made this place so magical to her.

"Now, Carrie, I didn't show you this spot so that you'd always be out here whenever I came to see you. This is the third time this week I've had to hike out here when I've stopped by," a voice called over the wind to her. She smiled, turning to wave at Andrew, as he followed her path in the snow. The wind whipped her loose hair around violently, blocking her vision. She struggled to contain the mass of curls, tucking them into her jacket.

"Then you shouldn't have brought me here, Andrew Jenkins. But considering you did, you'll just have to live with the consequences," she smirked. He stood beside her, and they both just stared out at the view in silence for a few minutes.

"Good day at school?" she asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Yeah, it was good. You missed the Thanksgiving pageant, Carrie. Kayla didn't cry once she got onstage, so everyone considered it a big success."

"That girl should not be forced to speak in front of people, she's too shy! I keep telling Jocelyn that, but she won't listen to me! Just because she's a pretty girl doesn't mean she should be forced, every month, to play a part that she would rather not do!"

"Hey now, she's a very good teacher, Jocelyn just thinks that a little coercion will help her get over her stage fright," Andrew said.

"I don't care about that, I care about poor Kayla! Andrew, promise me you won't make her come to rehearsals for the play anymore. She doesn't like it, she's too shy, and I can't stand to see the poor thing tortured every week, when she should be out having fun, doing things she likes!" Carrie raged.

"Wow, I've never seen you this worked up before! She won't have to come anymore, if she doesn't want to. I'll talk to Jocelyn and her mother. I'm sure we can come to some understanding," Andrew promised. Carrie smiled then shot him a sideways glance.

"What do you mean by worked up?" she demanded.

"You're just…normally a lot more…passive about things," he explained. She turned to him, frowning, but biting back a smile.

"Passive, am I?" she questioned, hands on her hips.

"Well, yes. Passive."

Carrie made a noise of indignation, and spun around, stalking away. Andrew sighed, knowing that he had put his foot in his mouth. Giving her a minute head start, he then turned around to follow her and apologize. As he turned, he was blinded by an explosion of snow in his face.

Sputtering, he wiped the remnants of Carrie's perfectly aimed snowball off of his face, and glared at Carrie, who was laughing. Picking up a handful of snow, he wound up, and chased after her.

A snow fight erupted, full fledged war. Carrie kept Andrew at bay, with her well-aimed throws, but eventually he caught her, as she bent down to pick up more snow, he dove at her, grabbing her by the waist, and they both tumbled to the snow.

Carrie was underneath him, and was struggling to free her arms so she could wipe the snow out of her face. Andrew took off his glove, and gently wiped the melting snow from her face. Looking up at him, Carrie smiled, with a flurry of butterflies erupting in her stomach as she met his eyes. His fingers resting on her face, brushing her brow, he leaned down and softly kissed her.

A storm of emotions waged war against her senses. An immediate reaction that wanted her to pull away resisted against the wonderful feeling of his lips against hers. Her mind telling her that this wasn't right was silenced by her lonely heart screaming that it was tired of feeling alone and wanted this.

Andrew broke the kiss, and looked at her, wondering what she was thinking, and how she might react. He might have just ruined the friendship that they'd built up since she first arrived in Fletcher's Cove, but just looking down at her face, with her wild hair framing it, contrasting with the white snow it was spread out across, he knew that mistake or not, he'd gladly do it again.

"Andrew, I'm not sure if I'm ready -" she started to say when he shushed her.

"Carrie, I've been wanting to do that since the first day I saw you. Now that that is out of the way," he said, standing and helping her up, "I have strict instructions from my family to bring you to Thanksgiving dinner, so get yourself home and changed, so I can deliver."

Carrie smiled at that, but was so confused by the transformation their relationship had taken when an awkward silence followed. In order to break "the ice", she bent down again, and grabbing a handful of snow, stuffed it down the back of Andrew's coat, and took off running, her laughter echoing in the woods around them.